HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I am eternally thankful for the husband God has blessed me with whom I call my best friend everyday. I am also thankful for our little miracle that is smiling at me right now. I am so grateful for my parents and their love for us and Rowe. They love Rowe as if he is theirs. In fact, my dad tells me almost daily, "He's mine." They also help us out in so many ways that I couldn't name them all. I am grateful for friends that love me even at my "craziest." If you know me, then that makes perfect sense (Heather). I am also thankful for my church and my job. We both are thankful for the rest of our family and for those that help us so much with Rowe.

Life is not perfect by any means, but I have so much to be grateful for, that I feel guilty for even complaining about anything. The good outweighs the bad no matter if I think it doesn't at times.

Need a Laugh???

I love this video. It shows you a little bit of our Chunky Monkey's personality. Enjoy!

Guess Who Winner

Congratulations Lydia on guessing first, although several people knew who she was. Did you catch the extra hint in hint #2 about her being famous "write" now? She is Karen Kingsbury, one of the most famous Christian fiction authors of all time! I do have to confess that if I had she had walked into my house last month, I would not have recognized her. I had never seen what she looked like prior to meeting her in person, and I must say, she gives great hugs. I love a good tight squeeze. Those sissy hugs aren't for me. My elementary students used to say "OUCH, Mrs. Gillis" when I would hug them. I had to learn to loosen my grip a bit. Anyway, back on the subject, Karen (because we are on a first name basis now) was an excellent speaker and very down to earth. How she has the time to write with six children is beyond me.

I have another confession, I have only read one of her books and it was a children's book - "Let Me Hold You Longer." It only took me two boxes of Kleenex to get through it too. I am currently reading "The Shack" and my next goal is one of her books. This is where I need your help. Which book should I read first??? There are so many to choose from. My mom and so many of my friends love reading her books, so I am excited to be able to join in on the conversation about how good her books are.

P.S. If you are new to Christian fiction, let me throw out my favorite Christian writer's name to you as a suggestion - Terri Blackstock. She is awesome! There are several others that I really like, but she is still my favorite.

Guess Who????

I am in the mood to play a guessing game. If you know me, then you know how much I love guessing games. Can anyone tell me who the lady is in the picture with me??? If you went to Jackson with me a couple of weeks ago, you are disqualified, because you already know. Happy Guessing....

Should I drop any hints???

HINT #1 She is very talented.

HINT #2 She is famous write now.

10 3/4 Months Update

Rowe is almost eleven months and just typing this makes me really emotional. How does the time fly so fast. I used to look forward to something with the hope of each day passing quickly until that day arrived. Not anymore! I want everyday at home to crawl by with the enjoyment of each second.
I did not post a ten month update so here are the pictures I took of him when he was ten months old exactly.


His favorite word is “uh-oh.” He throws things down and just so he can say it. He still refuses to say mama. I told him “Rowe, if you love me you’ll say mama.” His immediate response was “DADDY.” He is into everything! He took two steps last Saturday (November 16th.) He falls face first onto the carpet when daring to take more than few steps. He just looks up with a grin and shouts “Uh-Oh.” It is too funny.


Last Tuesday, Rowe drank his last bottle. He has been drinking out of training cups ever since. He didn’t even seem to care at all! I think I had the hardest time with it. He went to the doctor a week ago from Wednesday with the sinus crud and fever. His doctor took him off of formula and put him on 2% organic milk. I think he puts most babies on whole milk, but for some unknown reason, he wanted Rowe on 2%. It’s not like he’s big or anything. Just Kidding. He is eating more real food and less baby food. He loves all vegetables and turkey. He eats mostly organic foods and loves them.

He is still the happiest child I have ever seen. I know I have said it before, but I’ll say it again, “I can’t believe this is the same baby that cried for three months straight.” If you know of anyone with a newborn that cries incessantly, just let them know it does get way better!

Rowe and his little buddy Huntley are getting moved up to Nursery C at church. I feel like he just moved to Nursery B a few weeks ago. I guess they are afraid he might sit on one of the other kids. Not really!

One Long Post

Life is Good
As I was driving around our school parking lot to park this morning, I saw a sticker that said Life Is Good, which is not exactly what I was feeling at that moment. I know most of you have seen these stickers, t-shirts, and other articles with this phrase. I was quickly reminded that yes, Life is good. The life that I am talking about comes from a Father that is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. (Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8) He is the One where my hope comes from; the One who is bigger than any one man and all men.

Thoughts on Pro Choice in all areas of life
I think we give ourselves a lot more authority than we were ever intended to have. People have taken extreme selfishness, superiority, and evil and called it pro-choice. I don't just mean abortion either, but in many areas of life. As a Christian, God tells me in His word that I am not my own, I was bought with a pretty expensive price. He also tells me that my body is a temple. (Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) (13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:13-14) I am a new creation who is set apart from the world. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Please tell me where in the Bible you find that what feels good for me is truth. It doesn't. Truth is not something that is relative from person to person. If that were the case, we would all be born with our own Word from God with our name printed on the front. To have the attitude of live and let live, is basically saying, live and let die. God commands us to go and tell others about Him. (Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Matthew 28:19.)
I have absolutely NO right to choose whether or not my unborn child will live or die. God did not give me that right, regardless of what circumstances are present. There is no excuse. You may disagree, but where does your standard come from. Is it one that you created as right or wrong? Do you really believe that you are so intelligent that your standard that you created is all truth? I am not being sarcastic or rude in any way. I just want us all to stop and think about why we believe what we believe.

Don't give me the argument that if I believe in the death penalty then I should believe in abortion. First of all, you tell me what crime this unborn baby has committed. NONE! Just because we don't like certain consequences, does not mean we can eliminate them. Don't give me the argument, "What if a girl is raped and gets pregnant?" That child still did not commit the crime. At this very moment, I could give you the names of three families that would gladly take that child to raise in a loving home. Don't give me the argument, "What if there is something wrong with the child such as birth defects?" Trust me, God tells us He knows that child already. In fact, He knit that child while he/she was in the womb. Who are we to decide what yarn is worth living and what isn't?

Having the ability to do something and the right to do something are two totally different things. Jesus had the ability to call angels to save Him from the cross. He had the ability to strike dead the ones that hated Him. He even had the ability to control His entire life on earth but He didn't. Just because we have the ability to do something, does not give us the right to do it. Spiritual discipline is what this world needs more of.

I know non-Christians will not find this applicable, but I hope this influences the Christians out there that unsure where they stand on certain issues. God loves us all so much, and He is so much bigger than us all. We need to humble ourselves before God recognizing who He is and who we are.

Free Will vs. God is in Control
I have heard so many times that God is in control, so don't worry about anything. I disagree. I know God has the ability to control this world, but He doesn't. He has blessed us with free will and free choice and many of what we are experiencing today are the consequences of the poor choices we as a nation and individually that we have made in the past and are continuing to make. I know that nothing happens with out Him permitting it, but God allows us to reap what we sow. I am so grateful that I do know that my God will supply all my needs and take care of His children regardless of how hard things may be, but I am not immune to the hardships. I hope that makes sense.

Where do we go from here?
To our knees! Rather than spend all this time griping, complaining, and worrying about where this nation is heading, we should spend that energy praying for our leaders and nation. I hope to spend more time in prayer than in negativity.

Jesus was faced with very unfair rulers in His lifetime on earth, and I never once read where he griped and complained about them. Instead, he led a life of example, love, and teaching. He disagreed with them, but not the way I have been hearing disagreements this week. We need to follow His example. It can only be followed if we know what the Word says.

Redirected Passion
It is amazing the amount of passion that is provoked during times of election. It can be seen from elementary classrooms up to nursing homes. What a world this would be if we Christians burned with that same passion about our Lord. We haven't been able to stop talking about our candidate of choice, but when have I tried to persuade all I knew to come to know Christ. When have I been so deeply affected by sin like I have been at the tolerance of evil? I hope we will direct all this passion, emotion, and drive towards "candidate" that promises eternal life.